TY - JOUR
T1 - A model for defect formation in materials exposed to radiation
AU - Davis, Sergio
AU - González-Cataldo, Felipe
AU - Gutiérrez, Gonzalo
AU - Avaria, Gonzalo
AU - Bora, Biswajit
AU - Jain, Jalaj
AU - Moreno, José
AU - Pavez, Cristian
AU - Soto, Leopoldo
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Author(s).
Copyright:
Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2021/1/1
Y1 - 2021/1/1
N2 - A simple model for the stochastic evolution of defects in a material under irradiation is presented. Using the master-equation formalism, we derive an expression for the average number of defects in terms of the power flux and the exposure time. The model reproduces the qualitative behavior of self-healing due to defect recombination, reaching a steady-state concentration of defects that depends on the power flux of the incident radiation and the material temperature, while also suggesting a particular time scale on which the incident energy is most efficient for producing defects, in good agreement with experimental results. Given this model, we discuss the integral damage factor, a descriptor that combines the power flux and the square of the irradiation time. In recent years, the scientific community involved in plasma-facing materials for nuclear fusion reactors has used this parameter to measure the equivalent material damage produced in experiments of various types with different types of radiation and wide ranges of power flux and irradiation time. The integral damage factor is useful in practice but lacks formal theoretical justification. In this simple model, we find that it is directly proportional to the maximum concentration of defects.
AB - A simple model for the stochastic evolution of defects in a material under irradiation is presented. Using the master-equation formalism, we derive an expression for the average number of defects in terms of the power flux and the exposure time. The model reproduces the qualitative behavior of self-healing due to defect recombination, reaching a steady-state concentration of defects that depends on the power flux of the incident radiation and the material temperature, while also suggesting a particular time scale on which the incident energy is most efficient for producing defects, in good agreement with experimental results. Given this model, we discuss the integral damage factor, a descriptor that combines the power flux and the square of the irradiation time. In recent years, the scientific community involved in plasma-facing materials for nuclear fusion reactors has used this parameter to measure the equivalent material damage produced in experiments of various types with different types of radiation and wide ranges of power flux and irradiation time. The integral damage factor is useful in practice but lacks formal theoretical justification. In this simple model, we find that it is directly proportional to the maximum concentration of defects.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85099332614&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1063/5.0030158
DO - 10.1063/5.0030158
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85099332614
VL - 6
JO - Matter and Radiation at Extremes
JF - Matter and Radiation at Extremes
SN - 2468-2047
IS - 1
M1 - 015902
ER -